Chapter 4 - The Papers on the Island
Linda placed a second folder on the marble island.
It was white, neatly labeled, and filled with legal documents.
“Sit down,” she ordered.
Joanna remained standing.
“What are those?”
“A family agreement.”
“There is no family agreement.”
“There will be after you sign it.”
Beth opened the folder and turned it toward Joanna.
The first page authorized a home-equity line of credit against the Monterey property.
The second appointed Linda as Joanna’s temporary financial representative.
The third directed the bank to release $125,000 to an event company.
Joanna recognized the event company’s name.
Beth had created it two months earlier.
It had no employees.
No office.
No legitimate purpose except receiving Joanna’s money.
“You planned this,” Joanna whispered.
Beth lifted her chin.
“We planned my wedding.”
“You planned to steal from me.”
Linda’s palm struck the island.
“Stop calling it stealing.”
“What would you call it?”
“Repayment.”
Joanna almost laughed.
“For what?”
“For raising you.”
The answer came without hesitation.
Linda moved around the island.
“Do you know what I gave up for you? Vacations. New clothes. A career.”
“You had two children.”
“And Beth has never made us feel like a burden.”
Beth smiled again.
Joanna looked at her sister.
Beth had lived in their parents’ guesthouse rent-free for four years.
She drove a car Joanna had helped purchase.
She had never paid her own insurance.
But Linda called Joanna selfish because Joanna finally bought something for herself.
Robert picked up the legal agreement.
“This goes too far.”
Linda turned on him.
“You printed her bank records.”
“That doesn’t mean I agreed to this.”
“You agreed the family deserved the money.”
Robert’s face tightened.
Joanna watched him carefully.
He had crossed a line and was only now frightened by where Linda intended to go.
“Dad,” Joanna said. “Give me the papers.”
He hesitated.
That hesitation answered everything.
Linda took the folder from him and pointed toward the kitchen stool.
“Sit.”
Joanna moved toward the locked door instead.
Beth blocked her path.
“Just sign and stop making everything ugly.”
Joanna gripped the property folder against her chest.
“No.”
Linda’s expression went unnaturally calm.
She stepped behind Joanna and seized her hair.
Joanna cried out as Linda pulled her backward onto the stool.
Robert moved forward.
“Linda, stop.”
But his voice had no force.
Linda flicked open the lighter.
The flame rose between them.
May you like
“Then perhaps you need help understanding what happens when you betray your own blood.”
👉 Linda believed fear would make Joanna surrender—but Joanna had hidden one crucial object beneath the property folder.
